January 30, 2025: NJHA Installs Mark Stauder of Hackensack Meridian Health as 2025 Board Chair
Mark Stauder, chief operating officer of Hackensack Meridian Health, was installed today as the 2025 Board Chair of the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA).
Stauder, who also serves as president of the Hospitals and Health Services Divisions at HMH, was celebrated during the NJHA Annual Meeting held at the NJHA Conference Center in Princeton. NJHA, founded in 1918, has 400 members spanning New Jersey’s healthcare community including hospitals, health systems and post-acute care providers. Together, they pursue the NJHA mission of improving the health of New Jerseyans.
In his acceptance remarks, Stauder highlighted the invaluable contributions of NJHA’s members including $31.4 billion in economic impact that creates opportunity for businesses and communities across New Jersey; $3.5 billion invested in healthy communities; and 158,000 hospital employees that serve patients in 18 million occasions annually.
“With our employees’ expertise and dedication, New Jersey stands among the best in the nation for patient safety and the quality of the care and services we deliver,” said Stauder. “They truly are the lifeblood of what we do.”
Stauder also described a time of great uncertainty for the healthcare system, but expressed gratitude and confidence in the provider community’s united commitment.
“Each of us are fighting for a foothold in these difficult times,” said Stauder. “But we also share a commitment to a greater good – access to high quality, equitable care for every person in every community.”
Stauder succeeds 2024 Chair Bill Arnold, CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and executive vice president and president of the Southern Region of RWJBarnabas Health.
In her remarks to members, NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett discussed seismic shifts in healthcare policy under the Trump Administration and potential changes in Trenton under a new governor. The impact could extend to consumers’ insurance coverage and access to care, the healthcare workforce, payments to providers under Medicaid and Medicare, the healthcare supply chain, community health and social determinants and more.
“Healthcare organizations are on the frontlines. We witness the impact on the lives of New Jerseyans. And all too often we are the last line of defense for those at risk,” said Bennett. “There is no industry that can match us for the bedrock commitment we make to New Jersey’s well-being.”
Under Stauder as board chair, the full slate of NJHA Board officers for 2025 includes:
- Vice Chair Deborah D. Visconi, president and CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
- Treasurer Robert W. Brenner, MD, president and CEO, Valley Health System
- Secretary Patricia O’Keefe, president of Morristown Medical Center, Atlantic Health System, and Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for AHS.
The following healthcare leaders also were appointed as new trustees serving on the NJHA Board: Aaron Chang, president of Jefferson Health East Region; David Hughes, president of Shore Medical Center; Dustin Riccio, MD, president and CEO, St. Joseph’s Health; John Doll, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, RWJBarnabas Health; Alan Sickles, MD, CEO of Saint Michael’s Medical Center; Mark Sparta, President of the North Region, Hackensack Meridian Health; and associate board member Kenneth M. Esser Jr., executive vice president, behavioral health and president, Carrier Clinic, Hackensack Meridian Health.
